Ernst had merely made an opening gesture. As for whether the Ottoman Empire accepted, that was no longer his concern. Success would be ideal; failure still left the Northern Bay as a safeguard. Judging from the oil-producing regions East Africa currently controlled and penetrated, East Africa's energy security was no longer much of a problem.
At present, most of East Africa's refined petroleum products were produced domestically, while Venezuela was opening up new oil-producing regions. Unless Venezuela underwent major upheaval, such as war, it would have little impact on East Africa.
As for Russia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Romania, and the United States—the nations that had originally been important sources of East African oil—they had all halted exports to East Africa because of the European War. This was also the main reason East Africa had been developing Venezuelan oil with such fanfare.
After concluding the negotiations, Franz IV did not return to Germany, but remained in East Africa. Though he was the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, he could only be considered a figurehead.
After all, the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin lay in North Germany and had been incorporated into Prussia early on. It could not possibly wield as much influence within the Imperial Government as the southern states led by Bavaria.
Franz IV was deeply curious about East Africa's development. He had always remained in Europe before, but now that he had come to East Africa, he naturally had to take a good look around.
As East Africa fully opened itself to the outside world, many foreigners were able to visit and travel there. Yet due to historical inertia, aside from commercial and government personnel from various countries, there were still not many tourists who came specifically to East Africa.
The East African government arranged professional attendants to guide Franz